NWA Life

22 • nwa life • 3.29.2020 Rogers architect A.O. Clarke and opened in December 1927. The theater served as a community gathering place and was renovated several times as a movie and vaudeville theater before closing its doors in the early 1970s. In 2008, with generous help from the Walmart Foundation, contributions from civic-minded donors and the effort of tireless volunteers, the City of Rogers purchased the Victory Theater with an agreement that it would serve as the long-term home of the Arkansas Public Theatre. Arts Center of the Ozarks 214 S. Main St, Springdale 479-751-5441 Acozarks.org The mission of the Arts Center of the Ozarks is to "build community – socially, culturally, and economically – by engaging people in the arts." Located in Downtown Springdale, Arts Center of the Ozarks has been providing and making arts for the last 50 years. We've introduced thousands of people to live performance. Many others have been inspired by art classes, performed in plays and shared their art on the gallery walls. This non- profit arts organization offers a diverse range of programming, a home to artists and arts organizations to showcase their work, and engages people of every age and background to create a vibrant and cohesive community. Discover the Arts Center of the Ozarks. Join the enthusiasm for Downtown Springdale and experience programs that celebrate our culturally rich community. Arkansas Music Pavilion 5079 W Northgate Rd, Rogers 479-443-5600 The premier concert venue in Northwest Arkansas, Arkansas Music Pavilion, put the area on the map as a stop-off for major national touring acts. From Santana to Alabama, Earth, Wind and Fire to Kenny Chesney, The venue, also known as the Walmart AMP, has changed the game for local residents who don't want to miss out on their favorite recording artist live performances. The AMP has been recognized as one of the top 100 amphitheaters in the nation and has produced headlining concerts for the past 10 years. The current venue opened in June 2014 and accommodates more than 9,500 people, with 3,200 covered seats and additional general admission seating on a sloped lawn. Recently the Walmart AMP has upgraded air-conditioned concessions and restrooms, creating a permanent pavilion and the biggest stage house in Arkansas. The Momentary 507 SE E St, Bentonville 479-367-7500 The newest addition to the already rich and vibrant collection of arts and performance spaces is the Momentary. This bold concept is a contemporary art space satellite to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in downtown Bentonville. Situated along the Razorback Regional Greenway near 8th Street Market, they've transformed a decommissioned 63,000-square-foot cheese factory into a multidisciplinary space for visual and performing arts, culinary experiences, festivals, artists-in-residence, and more. The mission of the Momentary is to champion contemporary art's role in everyday life. The Momentary was founded by the Walton family, based on the vision of Tom, Olivia and Steuart Walton. The Walton Family Foundation is supporting this project as a way to enhance the quality of life in Northwest Arkansas. Its commitment to cultivating arts and cultural experiences provides more opportunities for education, engagement, and enjoyment in our region. Explore the galleries, catch a performance, enjoy a savory bite or refreshing drink, or just hang out. The Momentary welcomes all with free general admission. Northwest Arkansas Food Bank: Hunger is a grim reality for many here in Northwest Arkansas, as studies consistently rank Arkansas in the top five states for food insecurity. More than 65,000 men, women, senior citizens and children in Northwest Arkansas face hunger every day. According to a Feeding America report, that number is up from 63,000 last year. Fortunately, the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank is doing more every day to improve life for the food insecure in the four county region that they serve. "Our goal is to nourish, feed and lead those who are in need," says Northwest Arkansas Food Bank Marketing and Communications Manager Julie Damer. "Food does much more than just fill a stomach." Northwest Arkansas Food Bank's distribution network is expansive and growing every day. They work with more than 160 partner agencies to distribute food. They also have 13 Mobile Pantries (refrigerated trucks) that take food to outlying areas once a month for senior citizens and others with limited access to a food pantry. The Mobile Pantries rely on volunteers to help with distribution. Clients register onsite, then are given an amount of food according to how many people are living in their household. The Food Bank also distributes food through cop boxes, hospital boxes and community paramedic boxes. Northwest Arkansas Food Bank is also working with local schools in a new program called School Pantry, since schools play a critical role in providing high-quality nutrition to children in food-insecure households. "We started this in February 2019 with our first school – Monitor Elementary in Springdale. We now have a second up and running which started in March 2020," says Julie. "We plan to have 10 school pantires up and running by the end of 2020." The Northwest Arkansas Food Bank was founded in 1988 by June Self, who opened the first Ozark Food Bank in Rogers, AR in 1989. June and her husband picked up food donations from as faraway as Tulsa to serve the food insecure in Northwest Arkansas. In 2007, the Ozark Food Bank changed its name to the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank. Last year, 10.3 million pounds of food, or roughly 8.6 million meals, were distributed by the Food Bank through their partnership agencies. They also assist individuals in applying for SNAP benefits and provide resources for job-seekers. This year, with the acquisition of Feed Communities, the Food Bank will increase its educational, gardening and empowerment programming. The Northwest Arkansas Food Bank is also working to increase the nutritional value of the food it provides. By 2025, the organization aims for 75 percent of its offerings to be of high nutritional quality. "We are continually trying to secure fresh fruits and vegetables for our clients as well as canned foods that are lower in sodium, low sugar canned fruits, fresh protein and whole grains," Julie notes. Helping to provide them with healthier food options can result in improvements in client health and a reduction in diet related diseases. To find out more about how, when and where to obtain food, along and a list of partner agencies by county can be found on the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank's website. The majority of pantries are located at churches and community centers. The schedule for the Mobile Pantry can also be found on the website, nwafoodbank.org Nourishing local communities SPONSOR CONTENT CONTINUED ON 24 (NWA Democrat-Gazette/Flip Putthoff) Patrons visit The Momentary on Saturday Feb. 22 2020, on opening day of the venue for visual, performing and culinary arts in Bentonville.

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